Device for digging postholes



Patented dan. 23, 1923.

OLIVIER GILBERT, OF LEEVISTON, MAINE.

VDEVICE FOR DIGGING POSTHOLES.

Application led December 19, 1921. Serial No. 523,516.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Omvinn GiLBnR'r, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Androscoggin and State otMaine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices Jfor Digging Postholes; and l do declare theiollowing to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to' which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to an im-v proved device for digging post-holes and the like, but has more particular reference to an attachment Jfor such a device, this attachment being such that it provides a Jfulcrum for the device to enable the holes to be more effectively dug, to provide better leverage, to enable the task to be accomplished more easily, and to space the handle oi the implement or device from the wall of the hole to prevent the latter from being damaged, vas is the case when the handle of the implement is rested against it.

One object of the invention is to detachably connect the attachment to the handle of the implement in such a manner that it is capable of vertical adjustment on said handle. Hence, the leverage can be `changed 30 from time to time by shitting the attachmentand the work made muc-h easier.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an attachment embodying a fulcrum. which is adjustable toward and from the handle to enable the latter to be spaced different distances from the wall of the hole and to permitthe device to be used 'in different diameters of holes.

A further feature and object of the invention is to construct an attachment ot this class whichis strong, durable, easy` to adjust, attach and detach, and so simple that it` can-bemanufactured andscld at a comparatively low oost.

Other objects and advantages vention will be apparent during of the following description.

In tho accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designatel like parts throughout the same:

Figure 'l is an elevational viewv of an ordinary crow-bar showing the improved attachment associated therewith and disclosing the manner of use, l i

of the inthe course Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the attachment with parts in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking toward the head of the tulcrum member.

Figure 4f is a horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of the line 4 4 of F ig. 2.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a conventional type of post hole digger or shovel equipped With the attachment.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 6 6 of F ig. 5.

Before proceeding with the detailed description, I Wish to point out that the improved attachment is adapted for use on crow-bars, shovels, spades and many other types of implements of like construction and it is particularly, but not necessarily, designed for use when digging post holes, although it can be Well used on, other forms oi' implements employed for other excavating purposes. -inasmuch as the'shapes of the handles, to which the device is designed to be. connected, will vary in design and shape,v 80 do not wish to be restricted to any .particular kind of clamps for retaining the Aattachment in place and these will vary to meet the particular requirements. As before indicated, in the drawings, l have illustrated the improved attachment; as being used on a crow-bar and a shovel'. For the sake of clearness oi description, we will conine attentioul more or less to the use of the invention on a crow bar as shown in lFig. l.

Broadly speaking, the invention comprises a combined fulcrum and spacing member adapted to be adjustably connected to thel handle of the implement, the member being adapted to bear against the wall of the hole and be connected with the intermediate poru tion of thehandle of the implement to enable the latter to be convenientlymanipulated without disturbing the desired circular contour of the hole.

` Infits specific and preferred embodiment, the improved attachment comprises an attaching frame l including spaced divergent arms Qi'having their outer tree ends directed laterally as indicated at' Sto enable them to bear against one side of the fiat faced crowbar B. vBy referring to the sectional View in Fig. 4 it will be seen that these laterally bent ends of the arms are considerably avider than the crow-bar and are termed lle with apertures for passage of the screwthreadedi ends-of' the Uesliaped1 clamps it. Binding nuts 5 are arranged on the threaded ends of the clamp arms and bearagainst the ends `3 of the frame arms and serve to hold the entire device in position on the bar. It may be conveniently stated here that by simply loosening these nuts, the fra-me can be shifted down on the crow-'bar to po` sition the device at the desired point for varying the leverage and'tolipermit it to be arranged as vdesired-"When the hole increases in depth.v Referring again to Vthe par-t of the attachment named, it will -be-'sccn that it"l includes across-piece f6 secured to `and decidedly bracing the arms of the frame. It will also be seen that this cross-pieceand connecting portion' ofthe vframe are formed With alined vscrew-threaded holes through which a screw (-Ipassesl By carefully er;- a-mining this -screvvit Will be seen thatf itis equipped at its'outer en'd Witha plate 8 forming a head, this head being adapted to rest aga-inst the Wall'off the hole as shown in Figure l. A lock nut 9 is provided for preventing accidental movement of the screw in'one direction after it liasbeenprop erly set. This screw taken together with the hea-d plate forniswhat'. may be broadly considered as a fulcrum and the frame and clamps constitute the means for adjustably andv detachably; connecting this fulcrum vto the:lnuidlecfltheimplementT In use, the'nut's are loosened and-the at# taclnne'nt isadj'usted tothe desiredpoint on the 'intermediate*portion of the croiv`bar afterthe'hole is startedijv'ith a spade?k or the like. Asia; hole isd'u'gsome little distance below"l thfe surface, itb'ecomes rather hard to vmanipulate a croit7 bar or post hole digger because ofthe fact that thehandle is permittedto rest against the Wall of the hole whichV ordinarily constitutes vthe fiilcrum therefor. 1- lVVhenL-the implement is used .in the usual Way, undesirable grooves are formed in the? vWallv of the hole and the-con tonr- -isldamaged Jto"v an undesirable shape. \H`oi\`fever,- by placing-the attachment `ini-the approximate position-v sho-vvnand permitting` thefhead Vofthe fulcrum to rest against the Wall of? the hole, the crovrbarfis' ,spaced awayl fromY aiidprevented from contacting ivith such Wall. The' fulcrum member can be adjusted toward afrid from the' crow-bar to accommodate the particular size' of hole in which" the device* is usedand as the'hole isid'ug deeperpthe device is moved vertically Aupivalrd on" the handle' -to position it near 'theto'p ofthe' hole Where the best leverage can, in all probability, be obtained. i

l-Iavingcarefully considered the" drawings, itivill beseenf'thatthe only difference between theA type of devices disclosed in Figs. l to t and Figsfff and 6 is inthe-diferentshape of -the-rtain'ng-cl-ampst: It thereforefollevvs that like reference characters are employed tUdeSignate all like parts-jfoftlie device in all figures.' As before pointed out, the particular forms of the attaching clamps are immaterial andthese may be shaped to fit the particularhind of implement on which the improved.- attachment is used.

The several features and advantages of the invention-` have/,doubtless been made clear from the foregoing description and drawings. The manner of usingthe device has also been clearly set'A forth. Therefore, a more lengthyand detailed descriptioii' thought unnecessary.k i 'l L Since probably the best results .may ybic obtained Withl the construction' and.'v arrange? ment liereinsliownand described, this is takenl as .the preferred embodiment ofi the invention; l However, l VWish A iti. to. be: understood.l that minor changescoming 'Within the scopelof the inventionas claimed may be resortedto if. desired: Y i

1,111 combination, animplement for`A digi.; gingfpostiholes, and a fulcrum connected to the handle thereof, saidfulcrum being rigid with respect to the handlel and being vertically'adjustable thereon to vary the leverage as the hole` is dug deeper and .extending at a;right angle from the handle to bear. against the `ivall of the hole toV space thehaindle from said wall. o.

2. 'ln combination, animplementfordig ging holes in the ground;-andlazfulcrum to bear againsty the .Wallof fthe holezftospace the: handle therefrom, ,said fulcruml .being adjustable.toward and fromthe handlev` to operate effectively in dilf'erentA dia-meters: of holes. f

3. In combination, an implement for: digging holesin they ground, an attaching frame connected' thereto, and ai'horizfontallydisposed .fulcrum 'screw4 adjustably connected with said frameV and provided. at one ,end ivitha head adapted to bearagainst the Wall offthehole. .1

4t. In combination, a" postshole digging implement having ai relatively long. handle, al radially adjustablerfulcrum member, and a. bracketffor connecting said memberto they handle ofthe implement, :said bracket having adjustable connection-L v'v-ith. thefrhandie `to vary the leverage? andZto'f change-:the position of the fulcrum member as the' hole isfdugdeeper. p Y i. Y

AnA attachment. ofi the class described comprising a frame tobe mounted on. the l'iandle of ai post hole digging implement, said frame having `adjustable connection with the handle `toV permitl it to bel moved vertically to vary the leverage'andto permit its lposition tobe changed as the -holev is dug deeper, and' aradially adjustable. .ful- 'cr'um' carried byy saidy frame toengage Vthe Wall of the hole. i

l-lO

' said screw being provided at one end with a head adapted to bear against the wall of a hole, and means for connecting said screw with an implement for digging holes.

7. An attachment of the class described comprising an attaching bracket embodying spaced arms having their free ends directed laterally outward and away from each other, said laterally directed ends being adapted to bear against the handle of an implement, means for connecting said ends with said handle, said means being adjustable to permit the bracket to be raised and lowered on the handle to yvary the leverage, and a radi- 8. An attachment of the class described comprising an attaching frame embodying spaced divergent arms having their free ends directed laterally away from each other and adapted to bear against an implement for digging holes in the ground, a cross-piece connected at its ends with said arms for bracing the latter, the connecting portion of said frame and said cross piece being formed with alined screw threaded holes, a screw passing through said holes and constituting a fulcrum, said screw being provided on its outer end with a head adapted to rest against the inner Yface of the wall of the hole, and clamps associated with the laterally bent ends of said arms.

In testimony whereof l' have hereunto my hand.

OLIVEER GILBERT. 

